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Sunday, December 30, 2007

This was aparently shown every year around Christmas on WGN here in Chicago, it was one of my mom's favorites (after Suzy Snowflake, of course). Thought you might all get a chuckle from it =0) Especially the creepy looking Santa...

11. Oppositional Defiant Disorder-- You better not cry - Oh yes I will; You better not Shout - I can if I want to; You better not pout - Can if I want to; I'm telling you why - Not listening; Santa Claus is coming to town - No he's not!!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Perhaps I'm thinking a little much of myself, but I am going to attempt to put up a Christmas video daily (excluding weekends)! Today's is from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, it's a song done during the ghost of Christmas future where the undertaker and the maid and I think the grave digger (?) are singing about all the thing's they are taking from Scrooge... I wanted to use a song of Scrooge's from the beginning of the movie that starts out with something like "Ringle ringle, coins when they mingle make such a lovely sound" I keep thinking of it whenever I hear mass amounts of coin at work... even though the sound is more annoying then lovely ;-p

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

This weekend, Ruby Red and I went for a little girls day out Christmas shopping. We (of course I got the idea from her) have both decided to do our Christmas shopping either online or in boutiques. We spent the day at the Factory in Franklin, meandering around the square, and browsing through some antique stores. Which makes me ask the question...

Did you ever wonder what you might find in an antique store?

Perhaps a bronzed man wearing a hat and tie?

Or a hat that could double as a centerpiece?

Maybe a fun little sign for your house...

I guess you never can tell...

Then, as far as fun pictures go, here's one of Rachel and the guy that made our sushi last night...

There were only 4 people in the place, so all the employees were chatting and walking around. He happened to walk by while Rachel was texting and started playing with her phone. He then decided he wanted his picture taken... I think Rachel is going to have it printed and send it to him =0)

Friday, November 23, 2007

- A God that shows his love in an abundance of ways.- Parents that understand why I live so far away even though they don’t like it.- The very adorable Chloe and Cash… and the fact that they are both healthy kids.- Brothers that are cool now that we’re grown-ups! Haha- Sister-in-laws that I love like actual sisters- A best friend that I can pick up the phone and talk to like we don't live in different states and sometimes haven't talked in weeks.- Friends that allow me to dress up like an 80's rock star and play the rude liar in a murder mystery dinner.- Not working retail anymore on Black Friday!!!! =0)- A group of girls that I refer to as my "core". They know me better then I know myself.- A job that lets me be Pink Floyd for Halloween! (I need to get that picture to post)- A church that is wonderful at acting as my family when I’m missing my actual family.- Cute red shoes- Stores that respect Thanksgiving and don't blare Christmas music starting on Halloween.- People who need to cash checks... they keep me in a job!!!- Coworkers that make me laugh… especially when I’m annoyed at the Christmas music before Thanksgiving.- Thanksgiving Day leftovers (why do they seem to be better after Thanksgiving is over??)- Friends that’ll hang out on Thanksgiving so I’m not completely alone.- Not working retail today... aka Black Friday =0)- Jeans that fit better the day after Thanksgiving then they did the day before!- Online shopping for Christmas presents.- Being able to wear jeans at work on Friday- Seeing my debt get smaller every month.- Having parents that are able to help me out when I need them.- People in my life that keep me sane even when life gets crazy/depressed/weird/sad/stupid/frustrating/annoying/boring/etc...- A boss that truly cares about me and what is going on in my life.- The easy communication of e-mail which gives me the ability to talk to friends and family all over the country and see pictures of my cute niece and nephew that I only actually see a couple of times a year.- The freedom to openly demonstrate my faith without persecution from my government.- This country's armed forces... especially those missing out on spending the holidays with their families so they can risk their lives for our freedom.- A car that gets me from my starting point to my destination without breaking down.- An apartment with washer/dryer hookups... I strongly dislike Laundromats!!- Gas prices getting higher and higher (oops... wrong list!)- People shopping the day after Thanksgiving (on which I don't work retail). It keeps them away from the bank and allows me a slow day! Quite the antithesis of Black Friday, huh?- First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Westchester. The best bank ever! It's no longer in existence, but it gave me a solid foundation for my current job.- Lowes. Working there makes me really appreciate working here!- Have I mentioned not having to work retail after Thanksgiving??? Not even just the day, but the entire holiday season?? It was such a horrible thing to have to do!!- Blogspot... it give me the opportunity to write all this stuff that may or may not be read by people I know... or don't know...

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving spending time with family and friends!!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

I went to the coolest party ever on Saturday night!! It was totally awesome!! All of the biggest stars showed up!! We wanted to show our support for Hair Aid. It’s this gnarly fund raising concert event sponsored by Maqua Net Hairspray to raise some cash for research and development to totally design innovative ways to create bodaciously large hairstyles!! Fabulous, I know!

The party was held at the quaint home of our hostess Samantha Pinkman and her husband Peter Pinkman, scientist and famed ghost eliminator. We had some delicious cocktails (Shirley Temples) and got to mingle with all of the other famous people in attendance. Let’s see… there was the chairman of Hair Aid and Maqua Net CEO Biff Ewing; the Reverend James Cooker and his wife Glammy Ray; My best friend and pop singer, Gladonna. Break dancer Shaggy-Goo Oxide and his protégé Talex Towens (she’s narcoleptic); Atari Champion Buffy Bueller; Bobby Sue Petton the Olympic gold medalist who is a kleptomaniac and recently (as in that afternoon) stole my boyfriend, Moe Jontanna; which left me wide open to the annoying advances of Jeven Rearcie egotistical front man of a glam rock band; And of course, Mr. P (well known assassin) who we would fear to leave off the list of guests!

We realized early on in the night that everyone seemingly hated Moe. Which I loved, obviously; I mean he dumped me!! ME!!! Patty Plane!! He dumped Patty Plane!!! But even I was stunned when halfway through the evening Moe was murdered!! He was literally gagged with a spoon! It was horrible! And we had no idea who did it! I mean, like, even though I hated him, I didn’t kill him! And I know Gladonna has some assassins on her staff, but when she was saying that someone was terminated it was a member of her staff that made a mistake. But everyone had reasons of their own and just wanted Moe gone!! The one person no one expected is that it would be Samantha that killed him! I guess it’s always the quiet ones that you don’t expect. All she did was play with that annoying Rubik’s Cube all the time… it was really weird… Anyway, she did it, and accidentally left her freaky cube right next to his body!!

And poor Talex, with her narcolepsy problem, she didn’t even know if she did it or not! I mean, they were in the other room and she dropped in the middle of her break dancing and then he was killed! It’s a good thing Samantha admitted to the murder… people already blamed Talex as it was!

I bet I could use this party (and my heartbreak) to write a totally awesome song for me and my band the Brown Livers!!

I don't know that I’d mentioned it previously in my blog, but after two years, my now former roommate and I decided (as you could I'm sure tell by the title ‘former roommate’) to no longer be roommates. If we had tried to go three years, I am quite certain that we would no longer have been friends anymore. Anyway, I took a day off of work at the begining of October to find an apartment and signed the lease for my new place on the 12th! They offered me a half month free so I was able to move slowly. Which is the second biggest thing that happened in the last month. Here are a couple of pics from my new place:

The outside (exciting, I know!)The bedroom (notice the lack of sheets... haha)The living room

There's a picture of the kitchen, but I look pretty crummy in it (from moving all day!) so I cut me out of it:

The fun thing, is that these pics were sent to me from my parents who came into town for a weekend!! It was really fun to see them. In my book that was the biggest thing that had happened in October! So, I honestly don’t have any pictures of me and my parents, weird right? But, I do have a picture of the carrot cake I made for my mom! Her birthday was in September; and they were supposed to come and visit that weekend, but my mom had hurt her back, so they postponed. So, we celebrated late…I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. =0) I used some of the techniques from a cake decorating class I took a while back (as soon as I get pics I'll show them! I promise!)

With the exception of the crashing computer, October was a pretty kickin' month!!

Monday, October 29, 2007

So, I haven't posted in a while, and it's been noted by a rather prominent reader of my blog; and I would like to therefore note that I will be posting, soon, I promise! Mylaptop slightly crashed, but it will be fixed as soon as I get the Windows XP disk from my dad (it is en route). So, until then, Hi! I will be back soon, but until then, prepare yourself for a fantastic blog as there has been TONS going on here that I'm sure I need to update about!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

So I was at Yorktown todayand went to Caribou andCurly still works there! Mademe think of you. ;-) Miss you!Hope life is going well.12:41pm 10/10/07

Here’s the quickest back-story I can give! Yorktown is a mall near my parent’s house. And Caribou is my FAVORITE chain coffee place. They have the best Soy Chai Latté’s that I’ve ever had! Curly… haha… we did know his name, although it escapes me now, but he had curly hair, so that’s what we called him before we knew his name, and it stuck =0) And the only reason we called him anything, was because I was completely attracted to him. Haha!! What can I say; he had tattoos and a motorcycle, and he knew how to flirt (with me anyway… haha) =0) what’s a girl to do?

Anyway, it got me thinking two things:

1. I wonder if he’s still a hottie, and if he’s still single? ;0)And

2. Why in the world is he still working at Caribou? It’s kind of hard to believe that someone would be a barista for over 4 years without either a) a good reason or b) utter laziness. Wonder which it is??

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Let me give this a little preface... I keep having these dreams where I win the lottery, but the thing is... I don't play the lottery; and sometimes it's that someone I don't even know decides to leave their gimongous fortune to me! So, in the spirit of my dreams that won't come true (hehe), here is a list of things I would do if a ridiculous amount of money fell into my lap for some odd reason. Of course this list could change if anything big were to happen in my life (i.e. marriage, kids...). But since I'm single; here goes nothing!

The List:

1. I would tithe it. Definitely to my church, but also I would give to a couple of different missionary families that I'm close to (including my relatives in MN).

2. I would pay off all the debt I owe. duh...

3. I would buy a new car. Nothing flashy or grand. I really like the Toyota Rav4. Something basic. Maybe a hybrid Ford Escape. Lots of storage, good mileage...

4. I would get a new laptop. Mine is quite antiquated, and I'd like a computer that didn't take 20 minutes to open a program (yes, I'm exaggerating... but not by much!)

5. I would travel. One of my goals in life is to visit every state in the US. And I think it would be fun (yes I'm odd, you all know me!) to buy an RV in Maine and travel through back roads United States with a black and white camera. Of course it would be one of those really nice digital/film cameras because that would be amazing. Anyway, I think it would be fun to travel around and take pictures of the random back roads beauty that exists. Once I made my way (I'm thinking an up and down zig-zag) to the Pacific I would sell the RV and take a cruise to Alaska where I would rent a car and back road it with my camera. And then I'd fly to Hawaii. Where I'd stay. For a while. And maybe if they could, I'd fly some of my family out (and maybe a couple of friends) and we'd get to vacation there for a while.

6. Random vacations with my best friends. Where should we go? Just tell me...

7. I would buy land and build a house. I think some large area of land. Lots of room to roam around. The house would have a great room and hardwood floors everywhere. I love the look or the open area on the main level. And the kitchen area would have a double stove. Maybe a confectioners oven (ooo...) With enough of an area in the great room for a large dining room table, something rustic and big enough to have a lot of people over for dinner. A fireplace and comfortable, overstuffed leather couches and chairs around it. There would be a library/study. Nothing big, but it would have built in shelves with a smaller fireplace and a leather couch with throw blankets. A place where I could sit with a glass of wine and a good book. A place to relax. I'd pay extra money to have a full sized finished basement. I love basements, and I miss having one. It's the best place to be in the summer with all the cool air that stays down there. I'd put a pool table down there, with that Tiffany billiards lap we sold when I worked at Lowes. It's beautiful! I'd also have an in ground pool out back, with a grill pit next to it. One of those brick and stainless steel ones off of a patio. And a sunroom to sit and cool off in. And a sand volleyball pit! Surely we would all want to play volleyball! It's so much fun!!!

8. I'd build a separate little place out back just for my art stuff. I'd have a pottery wheel and kiln and all the stuff necessary for it. It would be big enough with enough storage for my painting stuff and all of my craft type things. Maybe some good shelving for stamping stuff. All of the walls would be white so when I wanted to work on something but didn't know what, I could doodle on the walls. Paint, stamp, draw... what a place for inspiration. I'd make sure there was a bathroom out there and a mini fridge for drinks. A big sink for cleaning brushes and wetting pottery before it's glazed.

9. I think I'd have a small place on the property just for my parents to stay when they're here visiting me. And maybe for my brothers and sisters-in-law if they ever decide to come to Tennessee (in the three years I've lived here 1 sis-in-law has been here) *side note: I just realized that I've lived here for 3 years!!* Maybe just a small apartment sized house near the art building so they'd have whatever kind of privacy they'd like/need.

10. I would start a non-profit. Here's what it would be (I haven't named it yet). I would buy a house somewhere in or around Murfreesboro. Nothing big, maybe three or four bedroom; and I would use it as a house for women. Not a halfway house or anything like that, it would be for single Christian girls that are in debt. Not just "but I want it spending", but people that felt they were following the Lord's leading in their life and wound up in debt and struggling to get out of it. Or if it was "but I want it spending" they would be showing the conviction that debt isn't what the Lord wants for their lives. Women that have that strong desire to be out of debt and able to stand on their own two feet with the ability to freely serve the Lord in whatever direction He is leading them. There would be rules and stipulations for living in the house (i.e. proving they are paying off debt and perhaps financial counseling) but mostly it would provide a safe place to live in a decent neighborhood, instead of the kind of neighborhood they could afford on a get-out-of-debt-budget. I've been there (am still there) and I always wind up in areas where I feel safe at first but after a year or two I'm kind of scared to walk outside alone at night. I would provide a place that is rent free, they would have to share in utilities. I wish I had that kind of a deal right now...

11. I would buy a condo in Chicago. Or maybe the suburbs halfway between my brothers houses (they're an hour+ away from each other). It wouldn't be big, all I'd need is a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Nothing fancy, just a place to stay when I'm home that's in the middle of it all.

12. I'd buy my parents a house. Wherever they'd like. Even better, I'd buy the land and have a house built for them. Anything they'd like, anywhere they'd like. Someplace for them near their kids, between their kids, whatever...

13. I'd start college accounts for my niece and nephew (or nieces and nephews right now it's just one of each). Something for their future. I want them to be able to do whatever they want with their lives! I pray for nothing but blessings and promises for them, and if they want to go to college, I want them to go to college. I want the success of their dreams!

14. I'm make sure my brothers and sisters-in-law were out of debt. I'm talking cars and mortgages and credit cards. Debt free. I don't know what on top of that, but I'd make sure they were taken care of.

15. I'd quit working, and volunteer places. I'd work in assisted living centers (I totally heart old folks!) and help where I could in the foster/adoption community. I've always thought about fostering and adopting, and I don't know if I could do it before I'm married, but I'd do whatever else I could. Even if it just means hanging out with some kids a few days a week, I'd do it. Big Sisters of America, here I come =0)

16. I'd go back to school. Part-time, anyway. I'd take courses that I want to take. Get that bachelors degree that my parents would be so happy about! Of course, knowing me, it would be a Bachelor of Arts or something equally as fun! I'd take some more advanced photography classes, although it's been a while since I took my last one, so I'd probably start all over again in the beginning classes! And I'd take more pottery classes, specifically wheel not hand building. I'm not so good with the hand building, but I made a bowl on the wheel once that was 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter... then while it was drying waiting to be fired, someone knocked it over on the shelf... man that got me mad! Luckily it still cemented my A for the course, since my teacher had seen it... he chose to still use it toward my grade even though it was destroyed. Maybe I'd take some creative writing, too. I always enjoyed those classes.

17. I'd make sure Faith was out of debt. Pay off her car. I'd help her out wherever I could. Especially because she wouldn't asked me to. She wouldn't want or expect a dime.

18. I'd do what I could to nurture the dreams of those around me. Andrea wants to own a store, Ali could have a daycare, Rachel would finish all those tests and degrees she wants, Angela and Sean, I'd help them bring their 'kids' here from Columbia for school; sponsor who I could... I have amazing friends with amazing dreams... I would do what I could to help them come true. I wouldn't get them out of debt (as much as I love you guys... I can't get everyone I know out of debt!!) but I would do what I could to support your dreams.

19. Did I mention that the basement of my house would also have a mini-gym? Basically an elliptical and a universal weights machine (blanking on what they're called) and whatever else the personal trainer I would hire thinks I would need (She, I'd hire a female trainer, would have to prove why I need it no need to spend stupidly). I would lose all that weight that I lose and gain and lose and gain... I want to look like I did in high school. I wasn't tiny, I had weight to lose in high school, but I was much more comfortable in my own skin back then. What a dreamy thought!

20. Of course, when I got myself back to the cute clothes size, I'm going to need cute clothes. Not going crazy, but more clothes then my sad closet holds right now! Besides, I'm way more likely to buy an plethora of cute shoes =0)

21. I would buy a plethora of cute shoes! That would be a fantastic time!!! I wouldn't go crazy with them name brand stuff, names don't mean that much to me, but I would get one pair of ridiculously expensive shoes. Trust me, I've come close to drooling over a few different pairs of $200+ shoes! (I know it's sad, but they were just so cute!!!) Why not own a pair!!

22. I'd have my knee checked out. It's been really bothering me lately and all I can think of is how much money it's going to cost to go to physical therapy, possibly even surgery and I don't have the time to go, so if I wasn't working, and I had time and money... I'd go and have my knee looked at.

23. I'd finally go and visit Meri in Iowa! She's lived there about 6 months less than I've lived in Tennessee, and she's come to visit me, but I haven't gone to see her yet. If my car was a little more reliable I would go (not that it will break down, but I want it to last until I can afford to get a new car!) and no, she's not that close to an airport... at least that's what I'm told...

24. Speaking of visiting friends, I'd also go to see Angela and Sean. They recently moved from Winona, MN to Hampton, VA; and I'd totally go and visit them if I could (again... this whole car thing...) But I'd probably go and visit when I could make the most of Virginia Beach and Busch Gardens (heh heh... we'll have fun!) I even forgive them for being my first friends to move out of my time zone! =0p

25. And of course I'd go and visit Faith! I'm pretty sure that was a big duh! hahaha...

26. I would go to Thailand. I've wanted to go ever since I head by brother talk about it. I don't know why but between the stories and the pictures... I'd love to go.

27. I'd buy a house (or condo) somewhere near an ocean. Not on the ocean, I don't think I could handle paying that kind of money!!! Houses right on are so very expensive, even the condo's!! But I'd get something, I think near Myrtle Beach (I really like it there) maybe somewhere in Florida... I'd want to be able to go to the beach without having to make reservations... no packing, I can just have some clothes there for when I'm there... What do you think, Ladies? Girls beach weekend whenever we want??? ok... maybe the guys could come sometimes, too... maybe... ;0)

28. *Here's the banker coming out* Set up a great interest bearing account (Or several). I'd start out with some money in my savings and checking, but I'd have interest coming in from my other accounts to actually live off of. You can earn pretty good interest off of millions of dollars, at least that's what I'm told... I've never seen that kind of money in my life!!! I'm poor!!!

Monday, September 17, 2007

I am God's child (John 1:12)I am Christ's friend (John 15:15)I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8)I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt. 5:13-14)I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2)I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20)I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34)I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21)I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18)I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom.8:35-39)I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12)I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1: 5)I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as Gods child (Eph 1:5)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I went to Destin, FL over Labor day weekend on a retreat with my singles group from my church...

It was so much fun = ) We had a GREAT view from the girls condo...

The beach was amazing...

We made up some random volleyball/basketball/ultimate frisbee gmae in the pool that kept us and the people around the pool (and on balconies) very entertained... hahaha!!! (Yes, that is a Wal-Mart volleyball we were using!)

We went to McGuire's Irish pub for dinner one night. It was a blast!

I highly reccomend it to anyone going to Destin. But I don't really reccomend the Garbage Burger. Ricky got it and about 5 other people tried it (I would have if it wasn't for the whole vegetarian thing... really!!) Basically the people in the kitchen go around to the different stations and put whatever they want on it. This one had (from what I remember) saurekraut, peanut butter, banana peppers, jalepenos, olives, maranara sauce, guacamloe, and cheese... there was probably more, but that's what I remmeber hearing... Props to those who ate this disgusting thing!!

I had to put this picture in because I took it, and it looks like something the condo's should use in a brochure!!

The guys at times seemed uninterested in it all, but it could have been that we were waiting to get seated for dinner at The Back porch (also fabulous!) I wasn't there for this pic because I had stupidly left my purse on the beach (thankfully nothing was taken!!)

I think it was The Angels that kept it safe(aren't they cute!)

Here's a fun picture of me Andrea and Rachel...

We were trying to reproduce a picture from when we... decorated?... Ali's house =0) Although we're obviously not as tan!!!

We loved the sun... some more than others! Here are some varying shades of tan... hahaha